Iowa Governor Urged to Veto “Ag Gag” Bill

The Humane Society of
the United States urged Gov.
Terry Branstad to veto notorious Iowa “ag gag” bill, HF 589, that would
criminalize the investigation of animal cruelty, worker abuse, sexual
harassment and other serious crimes at farming operations.

“The intent of this bill is simple: shield
animal agribusiness from public scrutiny by punishing whistleblowers and
protecting animal abusers,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane
Society of the United States in a letter
urging Gov. Branstad to reject the bill. “By signing this bill into law, animal
agribusiness will have unbridled and unchecked power over worker safety, public
health and animal welfare.”

On
Tuesday, the Iowa state legislature rushed the bill through both the Senate and
House of Representatives at a speed rarely found in the legislative process.
Normally, deliberations of such consequence take weeks, or at least several
days.

Critics
question the constitutionality of HF 589 as an infringement on the First
Amendment, and a broad spectrum of national interest
groups have spoken out against state ag gag bills, including organizations
for animal protection, civil liberties, public health, food safety,
environmental, food justice, legal, workers’ rights and First Amendment
interests.

Undercover
investigations in Iowa over the past three years have consistently revealed
alarming conditions on factory farms, causing a public backlash and demands for
higher standards on farms.

Undercover investigations have also played a vital role on the
national level in exposing animal welfare and food safety issues related to
industrialized agriculture. In 2008, an HSUS undercover investigation of a slaughter plant in Chino, Calif.
resulted in the largest meat recall in the nation’s history. The meat suppliers
faced a $150 million lawsuit for sending meat from sick and injured animals to
the federal school lunch program and the investigation revealed horrific animal
abuse.

Facts

Last year, special interests in four states succeeded
in having ag gag bills introduced. None passed.

A similar bill was defeated in Florida in January 2012,
but other ag gag bills remain active in Utah, Nebraska, Minnesota,
Missouri, Illinois, New York and Indiana.